Wireless seatbelt buckle switch harvesting energy and method therefor

• US 7,383,911 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company), Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Selker, Ted, Schondorf, Steven Yellin, McQuade, Thomas Michael, Schondorf, Kristin Marie, Gaboury, Scott Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/605,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20050061568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/801.1, 280/808
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A device (20) for an automotive vehicle (10) is provided to indicate the buckled and unbuckled status of a seatbelt (24). The device (20) has a self-powered wireless switch assembly (22) that is coupled to the seatbelt (24). It provides power to power a wireless transmitter (44) to transmit a wireless signal (45) corresponding to the buckled and unbuckled state of the seatbelt (24). The self-powered wireless switch assembly (22) harvests energy from the mechanical action of the seatbelt (24). The device (20) transmits a wireless signal (45) indicating the seatbelt (24) status. The receiver (18) located in the automotive vehicle (10) receives the wireless signal (45). The wireless signal (45) is processed by a safety information system (12) and then visually and audibly displayed by an indicator (16) to alert the driver of the seatbelt (24) status.

Claims

1. A device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a seatbelt having a buckled state and an unbuckled state;

a self-powered wireless switch assembly coupled to the seatbelt, the self-powered wireless switch assembly comprising an energy harvesting element generating electrical power, a capacitor storing power received from the energy harvesting element, and a wireless transmitter transmitting a wireless status signal corresponding to the buckled state and the unbuckled state;

a receiver receiving a wireless signal; and

an electrical request signal generated by the receiver requesting the wireless status signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting element comprises a piezoelectric material.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting element comprises an antenna capturing stray radiant radio frequency energy.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises a seatbelt location identifier.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the self-powered wireless switch assembly is coupled to a buckle side of said seatbelt.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the self-powered wireless switch assembly is coupled to a tongue side of said seatbelt buckle.

7. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a seat;

a seatbelt mounted adjacent to said seat;

a device comprising said seatbelt having a buckled state and an unbuckled state, a self-powered wireless switch assembly coupled to the seatbelt, the self-powered wireless switch assembly comprising an energy harvesting element generating electrical power, a capacitor storing power received from the energy harvesting element, and a wireless transmitter transmitting a wireless status signal corresponding to the buckled state and the unbuckled state;

a receiver receiving the wireless status signal and generating an electrical status signal corresponding to the wireless status signal;

an indicator coupled to the receiver to display the electrical status signal; and

a request signal generated by the receiver wherein the wireless status signal is transmitted in response to receiving the request signal.

8. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 wherein the energy harvesting element includes a piezoelectric device.

9. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 wherein the seat is removable.

10. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 wherein the seat is non-removable.

11. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 wherein the seat is foldable.

12. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of receivers.

13. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 wherein the receiver communicates wirelessly with the indicator.

14. The automotive vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a control module for conditioning the electrical status signal received from the receiver and the conditioned electrical status signal to the indicator.

15. A method of using a device in an automotive vehicle comprising:

coupling a seatbelt comprising a tongue side to a buckle side;

generating power from an energy harvesting element in response to coupling;

storing the power in a capacitor;

generating a seatbelt status and a seatbelt identification in response to the coupling;

powering a transmitter with the stored power;

transmitting a wireless signal comprising the seatbelt status and the seatbelt identification;

receiving the wireless signal in a receiver;

generating an alert message indicative of the seatbelt status and the seatbelt identification; and

receiving a request signal, wherein transmitting the wireless signal in response to receiving the request signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting the wireless signal comprises a seatbelt identification and a seatbelt status.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the energy harvesting element is a piezoelectric material.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting the wireless signal comprises a second seatbelt identification and a second seatbelt status.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting the wireless signal comprises a plurality of seatbelt identifications and a plurality of seatbelt statuses.

20. A device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a seatbelt having a buckled state and an unbuckled state;

a self-powered wireless switch assembly coupled to the seatbelt, the self-powered wireless switch assembly comprising an energy harvesting element generating electrical power, a capacitor storing power received from the energy harvesting element, and a transmitter transmitting a electrical status signal corresponding to the buckled state and the unbuckled state;

an indicator coupled to the self-powered wireless switch assembly, the indicator receiving the electrical status signal and generating an indication corresponding to the electrical status signal; and

a request signal generated by the receiver wherein the wireless status signal is transmitted in response to receiving the request signal.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the self-powered wireless switch assembly further comprises a wireless transmitter transmitting a wireless status signal corresponding to the buckled state and the unbuckled state.

22. A device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a seatbelt having a buckled state and an unbuckled state; and

a self-powered wireless switch assembly coupled to the seatbelt, the self-powered wireless switch assembly comprising an energy harvesting element generating electrical power, a receiver receiving a request signal and generates an electrical request signal corresponding to the request signal, and a wireless transmitter transmitting a wireless status signal corresponding to the buckled state and the unbuckled state in response to receiving the request signal and having a seatbelt identification and a seatbelt status.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the energy harvesting element comprises a piezoelectric material.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein wireless status signal comprises a seatbelt identification and a seatbelt status.